Barcelona is set to sign Arsenal's Belgium international defender Thomas Vermaelen on a five-year contract on Sunday.

According to Sport 24, the Spanish club had been battling with Manchester United for the Belgium international's signature over the last few weeks and Luis Enrique's team got their man for a reported fee of 15 million pounds.

Arsenal issued a statement on its website confirming that Thomas Vermaelen has agreed to join Barcelona in a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.

The statement further said Vermaelen passed his medical in Barcelona on Saturday, adding his transfer is subject to the completion of the normal regulatory process.

Vermaelen has negotiated a five-year deal and Barcelona said he would sign his contract on Sunday before having a photograph session with the media on the Camp Nou turf, the report added.